The Framingham Auxiliary Police is a part of the Framingham Emergency Management Agency and is organized under the Massachusetts Civil Defense Act of 1950. The Framingham Police originally established an auxiliary police program in 1942, during World War II, as part of the nation's Civil Defense program. The Framingham Police Department is charged with protecting and serving those who live, work, and travel in Framingham. The department accomplishes its mission by establishing partnerships with the community, using innovative problem-solving approaches, and recognizing the value of strong leadership and organizational accountability. The overriding success of the auxiliary police program can be attributed to the enhancement of the training and recruit selection processes that professionalize the organization and which started in the early 1990s. The enhancements were made in advance of the Framingham Police Department's decision to become accredited and were instrumental in the accreditation success.